Katelynn Phelan - Ireland's Youngest Female Professional Boxer

Katelynn Phelan is Ireland's youngest female professional boxer and is pursuing her goal of becoming Ireland's youngest female World Champion and inspiring the next generation of kids to use sport and fitness to better their future. 

During a stellar amateur career Katelynn won 7 All Ireland Titles as well as capturing European Bronze and World Bronze while representing Ireland. 

From a boxing family, Katelynn's mother and father, Martina and Paddy Phelan, run St. Bridges Boxing Club in the heart of Kildare Town while her brother, Allan, is also a professional boxer. 

Katelynn made her debut live on terrestrial television on TG4 in March and had her second professional fight in Cork in the Neptune Stadium. Currently Katelynn is training for her third professional fight to take place in Belfast, recently described as 'the European capital of boxing'. 

Katelynn trains twice a day, 6 days a week in a bid to improve her skills with the aim of winning her first World Title within 3 years. Currently ranked within the top 50 in the world Team Phelan feel that this is a very realistic proposition.

She trains in UNIT 3: Health and Fitness in Naas and also in her home club in Kildare Town. Katelynn's weekly training regime consists of; boxing, running, strength and conditioning, sparring and mobility work, all done with top training partners who push her in every session.

The Importance of Photographing Women in Boxing

There was a recent article in WIRED magazine entitled The Importance of Photographing Women in Sports.  Alana Paterson documents young female hockey players defying gender expectations.

The article contains this important observation regarding women's participation in male-dominated sports: 

"One of the biggest things researchers are finding that keeps girls engaged in sports is access to their heroes and mentors—even if it's just seeing them."

Frequent depiction of women in sport in the media is a key factor for public acceptance and individual participation.  Put another way, people's opinions on women in sport are swayed by the normalization of women in sport.  As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Photographer Working Ringside

It follows that the best ways to connect people with female boxing is for inspirational stories and illuminating images to be shared and made more prominent in the media.

Boxing has become extremely popular as a form of exercise for women for a whole host of good reasons.  But we have a way to go.  Acceptance of, and participation levels in, competitive boxing for women still needs to grow to the point that these two measures are similar for both men and women.  It is exciting to see growth in women's only boxing events.

 The Sweet Science Boxing Club in Atlanta, Ga Hosts their 2nd Annual Atlanta Classic USA Boxing Women's Only Tournament

The title of this article is probably too limited and could be better reworded.  But this doesn't detract from the importance that more images of women participating in the sport will play in the popularization of women's boxing.


It is important that news organizations give women's fights proper coverage.

Exciting featherweight prospect Amy Timlin stalked her opponent round the ring, carefully picking her shots and was awarded a points victory in her professional boxing debut  Roz Mari Sylanova

Female Boxing Now promotes female boxing through words but also has several photo galleries.  Hopefully, the images increase interest in this great sport for spectators and provide motivation for participants.  Click here to check out the Photo Albums at Female Boxing Now. 

The Boxing-Ballerina

Hard work and dedication to two sports has a small town girl known as the “Boxing-Ballerina” from Kansas City Missouri making big waves.

In a short time Brijhana Epperson has accomplished quite a bit in both the boxing and ballet worlds. In as little over a year being registered as a USA amateur boxer, led by her head coach also known as “Dad” (Courtney Epperson), Brijhana has become:

• 2019 State Silver Gloves Champion
• 2019 Regionals Silver Gloves Champion..
• 2019 Silver medalist in the the National Silver Gloves Tournament
• 2019 Junior Olympics Champion...
• 2019 Eastern Elite Qualifier Champion - thus becoming the Nations #1 ranked boxer in her respective age and weight class!

Brijhanas’ ultimate goal is to compete in the 2028 Olympics.

Brijhana’s love and dedication for ballet has resulted in an impressive resume as well.  She auditioned for and won roles for Kansas City Ballet’s “Nutcracker Ballet” in 2016, 2017 and again in 2019.

Brijhana took a break in 2018 and joined the “Friends of Alvin Ailey” dance company, broadening her repertoire with contemporary dance from Alvin Ailey to classical ballet from Kansas City Ballet School.

Brijhana’s accomplishments have garnered attention from radio shows, local news to recently being awarded the 2020 “Children’s Mercy Rising Star Award” through the Win4KC non-profit organization.

Brijhana had a BIG 2019 and has started off 2020 with a BANG!!!